"Clubs don't want the responsibility of having a diabetic child"

BarcelonaAndrea Pereira (Barcelona, ​​1993) was part of the Barça team that reached the pinnacle of European football for the first time. A team led by Lluís Cortés that, after falling to Lyon in Budapest (4-1), rolled up its sleeves and worked hard to lift the club's first ever Champions League trophy. "We saw what level we needed to be to be the best in Europe and we worked to get there. Our only goal was to be the best team. Whatever it took, no excuses," the player explained in an interview with the newspaper ARA.

Pereira has been diabetic since she was twelve. But the disease hasn't stopped her from reaching the top of the football world. "Sport has helped me with my diabetes, because in football you need discipline, consistency, and good habits, which are essential for diabetes. My main problem is remembering my insulin, just like I never forget my boots," explains the footballer, who also mentions some differences compared to her own experience. "I don't eat many carbohydrates, something many female athletes do on match days. I also have to check my glucose levels before the match, at halftime, and during the game, but technology has made everything much easier." Now she does it via her mobile phone using a sensor that informs her of her glucose level. Experience is also invaluable, and knowing your body is key to avoiding problems. "The information you leave the hospital with is limited or incomplete. You have to know yourself well, study diabetes, your body—everyone is different—how you react to food, with insulin…," advises Pereira, who also emphasizes not being afraid. "What clubs don't want is the responsibility of having a diabetic child, but you can play football without problems if you know your body. There's nothing wrong with having diabetes as long as you monitor yourself and take care of yourself."

An injury caused by someone else brought his time at Barça to an end.

Andrea Pereira hasn't stopped winning titles. In Mexico, she's lifted the Clausura Tournament (the state league) twice, with Club América and Pachuca, in an adventure that began almost by chance. "I had a year left on my contract with Barça, but Alexia [Putellas] tore her ACL, there weren't any roster spots available, and they needed to sign someone. They asked for my registration and offered me a loan, but I didn't want to; I wasn't 18 yet." At that point, the option arose to go to Club América, coached by Ángel Villacampa, with whom she had played at Atlético de Madrid: "They made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I was afraid to go so far from home, but I accepted thinking it was for a year and that I'd come back," she says with a smile. "When you leave Barça, it feels like the world is ending, but there's so much more to life, and these are stages you might never imagine, and they end up being really beautiful."

The Mexican league is growing, just like the Spanish league did in its time, when it exploded after Barcelona's first Champions League title and the World Cup in France. "There's a lot of investment, but the competition is full of foreign players," summarizes the former Barcelona player. In Spain, however, there has been a decline in the competitiveness of the Liga F due to the large gap between Barça and the rest of the teams. "In the end, you already know who's going to win the league. On the other hand, what I like about Mexico is that there are five or six teams that can win the title," points out the Catalan footballer.

Songs that define an era

Barça continues to dominate the Spanish women's football scene thanks to players like Mapi León, with whom Pereira shared the center of defense. "We complemented each other very well. She's a much more aggressive player than I am; therefore, when she moved out of position, I covered for her," explains the Barcelona native, adding that the Aragonese center-back always demands 100% from her teammates. The former Barça player also highlights the role of Marta Torrejón. "She's a quiet captain, who doesn't like the spotlight but always delivers a solid performance, a high mark. She's someone you can talk to about anything; she understands you and listens." Together, they formed part of a team that became the first role model for many girls who want to play football. "When I retire, I'll realize it more, I suppose, but right now in Mexico I see the responsibility I have. It's wonderful, and when I was little I didn't see it or even know it existed," says Pereira, who is also secretary of FUTPRO, an association created by footballers with the goal of defending and guaranteeing the labor rights of female players.

That iconic Barça team in which Pereira played also had its own soundtrack: The woman in green"The team's DJ, Patri [Guijarro], played it, and we had to listen to what the leader said, which we really liked. These are songs that leave a mark on you because you play them during a special match and you always remember them. There are songs in the locker room that, without meaning to, become important, and this was one of them," he concludes.